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Paradise regained for children 35 of 35 Ciao Users found the following review helpful
Rating from Sbanshee 5 Stars ()

Advantages Superb range at competitive prices

Disadvantages Disabled access could be improved

Hamley's Toys in Oxford Street is supposed to be the holy grail of children toyshops, but a Leicester shop is throwing down the gauntlet to be the king of toy supplies.

I suppose I have always been aware of the original shop in Carts Lane, because I frequented a tobacconists next door, and the gaily yellow coloured miniature fairground lego wheel always caught my eye, placed as it was in the Dominoes window.

Since those early days, Dominoes has expanded into a wonderful labyrinth of three interconnecting shops, with the main entrance now facing the car-park entrance to the Shires shopping centre in Leicester's High Street. Children in cars, awaiting the drudgery of shopping with their parents in the car park queue are now amused with the view of Dominoes toys on four floors.

The basement of the shop contains an array of Models, (such as Airfix) train sets and action figures where usually the male of the species can be found.

The original Carts Lane shop oasis became a fountain upstairs to the ground floor level, where more traditional toys of the dolly and action man persuasion became more common place. With more space, the business became more and more successful irrigating into the store which became available from the High Street frontage. The two shops were converted into one, almost seamlessly, to make a dramatic effect now.

Upon entering the High Street entrance a train engine whizzes round at just above head level (drawing the analogy with Hamleys) and gaily coloured marbles at eye level, for pocket money purchases, which will bring gasps of delight from the children. During Christmas time, when it is all lit up, is particularly enthralling. Here you will find educational, activity, interactive, soft and outdoor toys and the early children arts and crafts upon which the store was based. Here kids will marvel at all the beads, shapes, coloured bangles, sewing kits etc that they can stick, sew, glue and paint to their hearts content by making that special Mummy's / Fathers day card etc. It also includes a number of books on the various techniques employed. A separate section is allocated to construction toys; Lego, Meccano and Connect bricks including tables for the children to play.

The first floor is slightly more juvenile offering mostly pre-school age toys, notably playmobile, playclothes, dolls, and those all important - Toilets ! The second floor continues the theme of the older you get the more stairs you have to climb, with collectables and football memorabilia.

The collectables section deserves a special mention because of its age range content. 'Collectables' range from Beanie Babies for the very young - with current price lists for all those retired BB's - to the other extreme of lead soldiers and period chess sets for the, ahem, more mature child (koff). A football memorabilia section includes gift items for young football fans from shirts to mugs.

The quality of the products are served by the most popular children manufacturers: Lego, Meccano, Action Man, Barbie, Fisher Price.

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Sbanshee

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Comments

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Previous page Next page Page 1 of 8 | 1 - 5 out of 36 comments
  • pazza22 21/04/2004 00:22

    Hi - a great review and I totally agree with you. It has been one of my favourite stores since I was little and now I have been working there for the past two years in all departments. It really does have a lot to offer for all ages, not only toys but spread out across 4 floors we have a whole range of crafts both for adults & children, games, chess, traditional games, models, dolls house and art product and heaps more!!! Howver the part about staff chatting about mobiles were not actually Dominoes staff as the football room was rented from LCFC with thier own staff, which has now closed. We are currently expanding even further to bring you more with talks about a computer games basement and a cafe. So come and see for yourself - DAN

  • kylecoare 23/08/2003 18:13
    Rated this review as
    Very Helpful
  • damon1 21/08/2003 23:37
    Rated this review as
    Very Helpful

    I absolutely love this shop. My mum is really into arts and crafts(and the odd jigsaw puzzle) and so I have always found it the best place to shop when looking for presents. Well written op! :0) Damon. p.s. thanx for the welcome!!

  • JessL 03/08/2003 18:44
    Rated this review as
    Very Helpful

    You hardly get shops like these anymore! x

  • snackman 03/07/2003 17:33
    Rated this review as
    Very Helpful
Previous page Next page Page 1 of 8 | 1 - 5 out of 36 comments